Foundation garment crotch



Sept' 12, 1950 B. woHLMAN 2,522,008

FoUNDATIoN GARMENTY cRoTcx-x Filed Nov; 5.51946 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 12 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlCl-SI Beatrice Wohlman, Forest Hills, N. Y.

Application November 5, 1946, Serial No.. 707,907

' '6 |Claims.

This invention relates to foundation garments having crotches. One object of the invention is to furnish an improved foundation garment havthat would always be accurately in place and nevertheless adapted to be easily opened.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved device of the character described including a crotch which is easily opened and which is self-closing according to a neat and comfortable structure.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the nature set forth having an automatically closing crotch comprising partscoordinated in a novel manner to avoid wrinkling or curling of thematerial which would result in discomfort to the wearer.

Another object of the invention is the provision `of a device of the type mentioned having' improved means for coordinating a crotch with a sanitary napkin or the holding means therefor 'whereby the crotch forms a comfortable and reliable support for the sanitary napkin.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds. n

` With the a-foresaid'objects in view, the invention comprise the novel features, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in their preferred embodiments, pointed out in lthe subjoined claims, and illustrated in the vvannexed drawing, wherein like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views. l

In the drawing:

Figure l is a view in front elevation showing a typical foundation garment embodying the invention with va portion of the body of the wearer shown in dot-dash lines.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary modified bottom plan view of the garment disclosing details of thee crotch construction as laid out in plane position. Fig. 3, 4 and 5 are respectively sectional views taken on lines3-3, 4 4, and 5-5 of Fig. 2.

' Fig. 6 is a view similar' to 'that of Fig. 2 but showing the crotch stretched into open position.

Fig. '7 is an inside plane view of a fragment of a foundation garment according to a modication illustrating the combination of the crotc and a sanitary napkin. I

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined, but useful embodiments may be produced involving less than the whole. f

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the inventiony appertains, that the same may be incorporated in several different constructions. The accompanying drawing, therefore is submitted merely as showing a preferred exemplication of the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, IIl denotes a foundation garment for women, such as a corset, corselette, or panty girdle, constructed of any suitable material, preferably elastic in nature. Such elasticity is desirable in the vertical direction, but advantageous results are also obtained with elasticity in a horizontal direction, and desirably the material of the garment may be stretchable both vertically and horizontally. This garment is designed to be tight-fitting on the body of the wearer so that it holds in the fleshy parts and shapes the body to adesired contour. The garment includes a crotch member I I, connected thereinto in any well-known manner to form a smooth, well tailored garment. Because of the tight-fitting nature of the garment, and because of the panty portion Illa, it is difficult to manipulate an ordinary crotch, since the garment cannot be readily moved vertically or laterally. By this invention, the crotch, although permanently connected in place, is adapted to be easily and conveniently opened as will presently be described.

According to Fig. 2, a fragment of the garment is shown, modified for clarity in the drawings, and opened up into a plane position in which I2 may denote a section of the front wall of the garment, and I3 a section of the rear Wall thereof, the panty part being omitted and the crotch overlapping the walls I2, I3 less than in Fig. 1. The crotch comprises a plurality of compl emental longitudinal elements I4 and I5 whose outer edges at IIa. may be relatively Straight or suitably concavedto fit between the legs of the wearer; and to these outer edges the panty part Illa may be continuously connected at Illb. Each of these elements is cut according' to an opening which provides edges that divergefrom each other toward one side of the element so that each element is formed with spaced wings. More particularly, the divergent edges of the element I4 are indicated at I6, I'I, and the wings thereby produced are shown at I6a and Ila. The corre-- spending divergent edges of the element I5 are indicated at I8 and the wings thereby produced at I8a, both of these edges and their wings being preferably identical. Intermediate of the edges I8 and their wings is an edge I9 whichris relatively straight and extends along or adjacent to the longitudinal center of the crotch Il. mediate of the edges I6 and I1 and their correspending wings is a generally similar relatively straight edge defining the flap-like portion 2l. Of the latter, one side is relatively free at 22,

being formed by a relatively small reeentrant angle, while the other side of the portion ZI is Inter- 4 connected to the adjacent wing I'Ia. and is desirably integral therewith, the edge 2B forming a relatively smooth continuation of `the edge IT. Accordingly the angularity or location of the edges I6 and I1 may not be wholly symmetrical. lbut may be arranged to suit. i

The respective wings of one element are vdisposed alternately above and below the corresponding wings of the other element. Thus the wing I8a of element I5 overlies the wing IGa of element I 4. The other wing Ia of element I5 underlies the wing I 'Ia of element I4. The extent to which these wings overlap each other vmay be as substantial as desired. The arrangement is such that the edges I9 and 20 come into close proximity with each other along the center line of the crotch. The flap-like portions 2l lies on the same side or face of the crotch as its wing I'Ia. The portion 2| accordingly overlaps the edge IS to assure a complete closure. The wings are attached at their ends to the garment lli as by lines of stitching 23, 24 substantially throughout the same, so that each of the Wings is permanently and reliably secured to the garment. The arrangement is such that the elements I4 and I5 are interlocked with each other by reason of the overlapping arrangement of the wings and the central intertting of the elements and are thus maintained by the interconnection of the ends of the elements with the garment. The wings constitute a tensioning means to pull the elements together at the center of the crotch. The purpose of the alternate overlap of the wings is to assure that the elements are harmoniously retained for proper relative sliding movement when the crotch closes under the tension of the wings. It is essential that there shall be no curling or wrinkling of the iiexible elements M and I5 since otherwise the crotch would cause such discomfort as to be unsuitable for use. Further# more the parts must always be so smoothly and uniformly related to each other as to'permit the crotch to be easily and expeditiously opened. It will be observed that the arrangement of the wings is also eflicient to maintain the iiaplike portion 2l closed in substantially all positions of the legs of the wearer. In this regard, the wing I'Ia has a special function because it restrains one side of the portion 2| to avoid wrinkling or curling thereof. By reason of the flaplike portion 2 I, it is possible to utilize an elongated generally central opening between the edges I9 and 20, so as to obtain an opening action of sufficient size, and without requiring undue stretching o distortion of the crotch and garment. l

To open the crotch it is merely necessary for the operator to apply her fingers tothe edges I9 4 and 20 to stretch the elements I 4 and I5 apart subject only to the restraint of the Wings connected at 23 and 24 of the foundation garment. The latter preferably yields by reason of its elasticity in order to facilitate the opening operation. Additional yield may be afforded by also constructing the crotch itself out of elastic material, and this would take care of the fact that the foundation garment is under considerable tension, particularly when the wearer is in seated position. In liig.v 6, the front and rear walls of the foundation garment are shown as yielding under the tension applied. Because of the elongated opening at I9, 20, there is no excessive restraint in attempting to obtain an opening of sufficient size. Consistent with this longitudinal opening, there is just enough elasticity utilized for a convenient opening of the crotch. Upon releasing the edges I9 and 2B, the elements I 4 and I5 are urged toward each other by reason of theirwings, thus closing the opening and causing the iiaplike portion 2l to hatten out and to snugly overlie the edge I9. The crotch thus exemplies a dual overlapping action at the wings and at the flap-like portion, all subject tothe angular overlapping relation of the wings with the alternate overlying and lunderlying positions thereof assuring that the crotch is perfectly smooth and uniform in its closing action.

In Fig. 'l is shown a modification of the invention which includes a crotch II in all respects like that above described. Combined therewith isa means 25, 25 for mounting a sanitary pad 21 on the inner face cf the crotch.I Each of the means 25 and 28 may be of any suitable vnature for kdetachable connection of the sanitary pad and each may therefore include a buckle 28 having a slit 29 for detachably receiving and clamping an end portion 30 of the pad. In the case of the means 25, there are connected` to the buckle 2B two set of fastening devices of adjustable or other lsuitable character as shown at 3I and in the case of the means 26 there is one such fastening device 32. Each of the devices 3l and 32 may be formed with hooks 33 adapted` to detachably engage on the fasteners 34 or the like connected tothe crotch or directly to the garment as may be preferred. The mounting is such that a sanitary napkin is maintained in central alinement with the crotch, the operationand manner of use of the latter being the same as described above. In this instance, the crotch forms reliable supporting action for the sanitary napkin and the supporting action is the conjoint effect of the overlapping elements I4 and I5, diminishing however toward the central. region of the crotch to assure maximum comfort for the wearer.

It is thus seen that I have provided a device which fulfills the objects of the invention and which is inexpensive to manufacture and which is durable, reliable and highly efficient in use and capable of being easily laundered.

I claim: I

l. A foundation garment comprising an elongated, iiexible crotch member, and a body portion of the garment to whichthe ends of the crotch member are connected, the latter including a plurality of longitudinal elements each forming an opening defined by a generally straight line edge extending lengthwise generally centrally of the crotch member and by edges diverging from the straight line to a side edge of the elements to provide spaced generally triangular wings, the wingsofthe different elements extending toward and overlapping cach other with the dierent wings of one element respectively overlying and underlying the adjacent wings of the other element and with the generally straight line edges of the elements being in relatively close proximity to each other so as to be adapted to be spread apart to open the crotch member and to be closed automatically by the wings, the latter being interconnected at their ends so as to tend to close the crotch member.

2. A foundation garment according to claim l wherein one of the elements is provided with a narow nap portion along its straight line edge for overlapping the straight line edge of the other element.

3. A foundation garment according to claim l wherein the elements overlap each other along the straight line edges, the amount of overlap :being relatively uniform along the latter, the overlap being, provided by a flap-like portion of one element having one free side edge and being connected at its opposite side to the adjacent wing of its, element whereby the flap-like portion is urged to closed position, the nap-like portion lying with its adjacent wing at one side of the other element.

4. A foundation garment having an elongated, flexible crotch member, and a body portion of the garment for tightly enclosing the torso of a wearer to which the ends of the crotch member are connected at the level of the groin, said crotch member including a plurality of longitudinal elements each forming an opening defined by a generally straight line edge extending lengthwise generally centrally of the crotch member and by edges diverging from the straight line to a side edge of each of the elements to provide spaced generally triangular wings, the wings of one element at least at one end thereof overlapping the wings ci the other element and with the generally straight line edges of the elements being in relatively close proximity to each other so as to be adapted to be spread apart to open the crotch'member and to be closed automatically by the wings, the latter being interconnected in said overlapping relation and connected to said body portion at rear ends thereof and permanently secured to said body portion at front ends thereof to maintain the crotch normally closed in all positions of the legs of the wearer.

5. The foundation garment defined in -claim 4 in which said crotch member has means for holding a sanitary pad therealong so that the overlapping wngs serve as a backing therefor diminishing toward the point at which the crotch member is openable.

6. In a garment of the character described, a pantie girdle having elastic front and rear walls for encircling and conforming to the hips and legs of a wearer, a crotch which is resilient in a front and back direction and comprised of a pair of adjacent sheet members extending between said iront and rear Walls at the lower midportion of the garment, the first of said crotch members lying adjacent the right leg of the wearer, and the second of said crotch members lying adjacent the left leg of the wearer, each of said crotch members having divergent end sections, the end sections of the first crotch member extending towards the left side of the garment, the end sections of the second crotch member extending towards the right side of the garment, one end section of each of the crotch members, being at the front of the garment in overlapped relation with each other whereby one end section of one of the crotch members is hidden from exterior View, the other end section of the crotch members being at the back of the garment in overlapped relation with each other whereby one end section or the other of the crotch members is hidden from exterior view, the adjacent edges oi the crotch members defining a normally closed central crotch opening, permanent connecting means securing ends of each of the crotch members to each other only at their respective overlapped regions and to said garment rear and front walls to retain the crotch in said normally closed position in all positions of the legs of the wearer, and said adjacent edges of the crotch members being free for movement away from each other on stretching of said garment front and rear walls and said resilient crotch members and then towards each other upon release.

BEATRICE WOHLMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,084,180 Velasko Jan. 13, 1914 1,146,923 Collier July 20, 1915 1,175,514 Fox Mar. 14, 1916 1,407,626 Buasher et al Feb. 21, 1922 2,022,751 Waksmundzka Dec. 3, 1935 2,375,543 Faegre May 8, 1945 

